Solavaca Ranch - Texas Mountain Bike Trail International Mountain Bicycle Association FWMBA Member DORBA Member
7829 FM 205       8 Miles from Glen Rose, Texas       254.823.6574
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Hargrave's Solavaca Mountain Bike Adventure - A Texas Mountain Bike Trail

Solavaca Days

Watch the weather and the tweets just on the right side of this page for trail conditions, closings, or other news. Some of you know how to get Twitter to feed to your phone so you can get updates automatically.

Attention Christian friends or those that might be interested in some growth in that area! Barney Benner, Tony Nash, and I have been talking about a quarterly fellowship ride with a format that will include some Christian discussion time and then a ride or a hike if that's your thing. We are leaning toward a Saturday Morning - once a quarter at first - with maybe a gathering in the the public area and a speaker, some prayer - followed by some fellowship and then a ride. This is a loose and flexible plan at this point so your input will help. We could plan for 20-25 minutes for our meeting and then the ride will be up to you. Most people like to sit down and relax afterwards and that time too can foster some witness or whatever feeds your faith. This is developing so please chime in. email mack.hargrave@gmail.com or barney.benner@gmail.com

A reminder. The trail is what we are sharing. Stay on it please. Ride it responsibly, respecting that we have the trail built the way we like it - NEVER alter the trail. If there are dangerous developments on the trail, call me. Never ride muddy trails. In fact, if you are riding here that means that you are a Friend. Help me protect the priviledge for you and others by speaking out if you see some bad behavior. Take your trash with you. Leave the "Friends" area clean for the next guy!

Before you come. Check the policies and rules at the following link to see how we do things on the Solavaca Trails. Trail Tips. There is a short vdeo on YouTube. Done in April 2013 before the TMBRA race. Nice ad for the trail Pre-Ride Video 2013

 The new and improved Sign In and Visitor area is open. In the Welcome shed, you sign-in, pay the fees. and can even slip into the changing booth to get in or out of your riding kit. There are some tables and chairs for your use as well.

Trail Status Updates

This Texas mountain bike trail is located in the limestone hills of the Paluxy River watershed. Just down the road is the Dinosaur Valley State Park.

  • Solavaca is a privately owned ranch with an ideal topography for a mountain bike trail. A seasonal creek runs across the property from south to north. This clear water creek, flowing or dry, is dominate in several of the more technical parts of the trail.
  • The 8+ miles of single-track trail - all marked ORANGE - lead the rider through a variety of challenges as well as sections of scenic and fast riding.
  • The Hargrave's designed, built, and maintain the trail.
  • Some sections require a more advanced level of skill and a bike that is built to handle it. Rocky descents, climbing, steep dropoffs, roots, logs, a rock garden, just to name a few.
  • Beginners may want to use the "go-arounds" marked with WHITE arrows, so as to avoid the more technical sections. But for some, the harder sections should be walked just to be safe.
  • There is also a primitive camping area that is available during events or large group bookings.USE AND CAMPING

      • Please keep in mind that the Solavaca is not just a trail but also is the home and private residence of the Hargrave's. Please respect the delicate balance between our hospitality and our privacy. Stay in the areas alloted for your use.

      • The barn and the immediate proximity is private.
      • Read the rules of use and adhere to those strictly (see the Use and Camping link above).
      • Complete the waiver completely as soon as you arrive.
      • Wear a helmet whenever you are on a bicycle, properly fit and properly worn.
      • Take your trash with you.
      • We share the trail for a nominal fee. We are not, and do not want to be treated as, a public venue.
      Current Somervell
      County Weather      		 
      MONDAY
      TUESDAY
      WEDNESDAY
      THURSDAY
      FRIDAY
      SATURDAY
      SUNDAY
      HOLIDAYS
      OPEN
      OPEN
      OPEN
      OPEN
      OPEN
      OPEN
      OPEN
      Advise
      		   Helmets are required when you are astride a bike please.
      No PETS, No KIDDING.

      WHAT TO EXPECT
      When you drive up to the gate, it will be closed to keep the livestock in. The dogs that guard the goats will bark but they will not bother you. Come in and please close the gate behind you. You will see the Sign-In/Visitor area where you will go to sign the waiver. Drop your FEE ($3 per person) in the can provided. There are tables, chairs, shade, and a porta-jon provided nearby. The trail is just feet from the Visitor area - immediately across the driveway. Follow the ORANGE markers, or take the WHITE arrows to shorten the loop a little. All trail leads back to the trail-head eventually. ORANGE Loop mileage is 8.5 miles. The ranch roads are not generally for biking but serve to get you back if you have an emergency or a mechanical. Please try to avoid cutting through the Hargrave's house/barn area except in the case of an emergency.

      At the Front Gate Mack - 4/08  LC, Ed, and George X-Over Bridge



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Texas Mountain Bike Trail - Solavaca

Owned by: Mack and Shari Hargrave 254.823.6574


This trail is located at 7829 FM205, 7 miles from Glen Rose and 4.5 miles from the Dinosaur Valley State Park, in the Paluxy River watershed

Open every day of the week. Closures for any reason will be announced in the "Trail Status Updates" near the top/right of this page (Twitter Feed).

TRAIL USE FEES:   Adults $3/day     Kids under 12 FREE

Camping is NOT AVAILABLE EXCEPT ON EVENT WEEKENDS. Details are available on the event flyer. See USE AND CAMPING
SITE LINKS:
CONTACT
GoogleMAP IT!
LIABILITY FORM
LARGE TRAIL MAP
MAP & DIRECTIONS		 PICTURES:
DORBA Camp/Ride May 2008  HERE and MORE
SOLAVACA RACING - Video :: Photos #1 :: Photos #2 :: Photos #3
GLEN ROSE PLACES
DINOSAUR VALLEY STATE PARK
CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
PALUXY RIVER BED CABINS
HISTORIC GLEN HOTEL		 FRIENDS
GOOD BYE CYCLE
MountainBikeTX.com


How you do the Cola de Gato? Take off your shirt!
Cat Claw Classic Jeff Skins the Cat Falls Area of the Upper Creek Jake on the Upper Creek Mike A LC Rocks Orr Brothers on the Berm Chris is the Mann

Welcome to my place. It is a nice place to kick back and soak in the good country. Or you could jump on your mountain bike and pump up, down, around and through the rock strewn hills and cedar covered reaches of the Solavaca - a Texas Mountain Bike Trail. The Solavaca is very diverse with enough trail to interest beginners as well as seasoned riders looking for techincal riding and single-track in the XC tradition. In 2008, we hosted our first mountain bike race. From 2010-13, we were a regular stop for the TMBRA XC Spring State Championship Series. In 2013 we also hosted Bryan Fawley's Fossil 50. Who knows what events we might do?

Special thanks to Larry Colvin, long-time President of the FWMBA. I met Larry in October, 2007. He took the time to hear about the trail and then to come ride it. Larry rode the trail twice in the next few months, offering suggestions both on the trail and on the mountain bike scene. Just watching him ride put things in another perspective. He continues to be a great advocate and a steady source of support on many levels.

254.823.6574 or cell 214-773-4614. You are welcome to drop in.

 Trail notes -

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